Doppelgängers

Thursday, January 22, 2009



Today my good friend Alberta called to tell me that she met a girl who could easily be my double. She said her name was Claudia, that her intonation was similar and that we even had the same last name. Maybe she's a distant relative? It makes sense right... a long lost cousin maybe? :) But nevertheless whenever someone tells me that they saw someone who looked just like me I think of the old Doppelgänger myth, I like creeping myself out:

'In the vernacular, "Doppelgänger" has come to refer (as in German) to any double or look-alike of a person. The word is also used to describe the sensation of having glimpsed oneself in peripheral vision, in a position where there is no chance that it could have been a reflection. They are generally regarded as harbingers of bad luck. In some traditions, a doppelgänger seen by a person's friends or relatives portends illness or danger, while seeing one's own doppelgänger is an omen of death. In Norse mythology, a vardøger is a ghostly double who precedes a living person and is seen performing their actions in advance.'



This is one of my favorite Twilight Zone episodes, 'Mirror Image' (1960), it's partly to blame for my morbid Doppelgänger thoughts.

13 comments:

Shes Dressing Up said...

I've heard some creepy stories about doppelgangers, very intriguing!!

IKS said...

i once met 2 girls with exact name and last name, and of a simmilar look... totaly freaky!

Anonymous said...

Goodness me I had no idea about the history behind doppelgangers! Very interesting Gabbi!

Gabbi said...

~Glad I'm not the only one that finds it interesting, thank you Dressing up :)

~That is freaky Electro Geisha! The strangest thing that ever happened to me in this kind of area was about 10 years ago, I was working in a Church rectory and I had to write the names of children who had just been baptized in a register, and there was a little baby who had my exact name (my name isn't very common) and we were both born on the same date. It was sort of creepy for some reason? :)

~Yes Sam, they're out there *scary music here* on wikipedia they have a section under famous Doppelgängers. Creepy stuff I tell you... :)

Certain Creatures said...

I'd never seen this episode! creeepy!! :o !! but so fun to watch! I love these old movies!
Goodness, I wonder who that person that really looked like you is - Someone once told me that they were sure they'd met me before but didn't know where or when. weird!
happyweekend!
xxx

Gabbi said...

~Happy you liked it! Someone being positive that they'd met you before is creepy... your Doppelgänger is out there. Wonder if she's as creative and crafty as you? :) Good weekend to you also dear Francesca and thank you!

Anonymous said...

wonderful entry. you've got me thinking..now i want to read about famous doppelgangers.
i had a doppelganger once when i was young. we actually became close friends and used to make up stories that we were long lost sisters. funny- now we look nothing alike.
p.s. be careful

Couture Carrie said...

I adore the idea that we all have doppelgangers out there! How cool!

xoxox,
CC

Maria said...

Awwww Gabbi, the definition of Doppelganger is quite disturbing! It makes me shudder! =P
I'm sure that in your case the episode isn't so terrifying...it's just a coincidence! =)
It happens that there is someone on earth that is similar to us =)
A big kiss!
Mary

Anonymous said...

hi Gabbi!
I love Twilight Zone, and I think the Mirror Image is very graphic
Nora

Gabbi said...

~Thank you dear Asherette :) that day and the following I made sure to bundle up whenever I went out so I wouldn't get sick :) I'm a little superstitious and you might've guessed. Your doppelgänger sounds cute, when I was a kid one of my favorite fantasies was to have a twin!

~Yeah CC, it's all fun and games until they try to kill you... :) I wonder if your doppelgänger is a savvy stylista too? :)

~Well dear Mary, after the doppelgänger thought faded I started thinking maybe she's an illegitimate sister? I'm going to have to investigate this further :) Doppelgängers are scary aren't they! Hope you're having a nice weekend...

~That was one of my favorite television shows growing up dear Nora :) Thank you for visiting and taking the time to comment! It's always great hearing from you.xoxo

Mary-Laure said...

In literature my favorite doppelganger story is Joseph Conrad's The Secret Sharer, it's eerie and just GREAT.

Gabbi said...

~You had me with 'eerie' dear Mary-Laure, tomorrow I'm heading over to the public library to find it! :)

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